Jonathan l



tnited Solistas @met '(tjiiiire.

Letters Patent No. 91,920, dated June 29, 1869.

IMPROVE!) .'BOOT- AND SHOE-STRETCHER.

The Schedule referred to in these Letters Patent and making part of thesame To all whom. it may concern: l

' device;

Figure 2,- a transverse section of the same; and

Figure 3, a plan or top view of the same, in which the red outlinesindicate how the device operates.

Corresponding letters refer to corresponding parts in the severalfigures.

My invention relates to devices termed boot and shoe-stretchers; and

It consists in a last, formed of three parts, namely, the two'sides,which are hinged together at the heel, and Hiertoe-portion, which iswedge-shaped, and may be made to'separate the sides more or less by ascrewbolt attached to it, and working in a nut in the heel of the last,as hereinafter more fully explained.

The following description will enable' those skilled inthe art to makeand use my improved device.

A and A represent two pieces of wood or metal,

vhinged together atene end, by the hinge a, which have such forms, thatwhen their straight sides are brought together, they form a last with alarge tapering notch in the front or toe-portion. In the upper portionof the heel they have round holes, in which the arms of the nut C rest,and diagonally across their Astraight sides semicircular'grooves arecut, through which the screw-bolt D passes.

B represents the wedge, forming the toe-portion of the stretcher, wheninserted in the notch tbrmed by bringing the parts A and A together.

C represents the nut, in which the screw-boit works. Its centre is inline with the diagonal-grooves, and its arms rest in the eyes in theheel-portions of A and A.

D represents the screw-bolt, provided at its extreme outer end with ahandle, d. It is screwed through the nut C, and then attached to thepointed end of the wedgeB, by means of a strap, d', which embraces the'wedge and is firmly secured to the sides thereof.

This end of the bolt is somewhat smaller in diameter than thescrew-portion, and works loosely in the l eye of the strap through whichit passes, and is then provided with a. collar, which is iirmly securedthere- The operation is as follows: The device being inserted in a bootor shoe which it is intended to stretch, the same may be stretchedsidewise by drawing the wedge between the portion A and A', andseparating them, or lengthwise, by push- A ing the wedge forward.

Having thus described my invention, What I claim, and desire to secureby Letters Patcnt, is

The combination of the wedge B with the screwbolt D, the hinged portionsA and A', and nut C, substantially as andfor the purpose set forth.

lIn testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specication, in.the' presence of two subscribing witnesses. y

JONATHAN L. DEVOL. Witnesses:

GEORGE Looms, W. S. Devon.

